ARTICLE

Alec on HuffPo: The Right Candidate for New York Mayor

29th July 2013

It certainly is unfortunate, for all involved, that Anthony Weiner”s personal dilemma has hijacked the mayoralty race in New York. This election, in my opinion, is a pivotal one for New York, as the City struggles to redefine itself while climbing out from under the suffocating barrage of Michael Bloomberg”s 12-year attempt at reshaping New York into an American Singapore. After Bloomberg, New York would benefit by electing an official who demonstrates some affinity for the needs of its middle-class citizens. But Weiner can”t be that person.

It would be one thing if a man had an affair, doing what comes naturally with a partner other than his wife. It”s another thing to text compromising photos of yourself and thus hand someone a loaded gun. However, it is, without doubt, entirely something else, again, to ultimately resign one”s seat in the U.S. Congress, both embarrass and disappoint yourself, your family and your constituents and then repeat that very same behavior right at a time when your poll numbers are about to climb.

Weiner has only one problem that disqualifies him from the race and that is that he is clearly addicted to reckless behavior. That is something New York”s taxpayers do not need right now. Weiner should quit, walk away, let some time wash over his reversals and re-emerge , another day, to attempt some future race for public office. Weiner is smart and tough. Who knows? He may come back and prove himself as a great public servant. But New York does not need a mayor who has an uncontrollable desire to self-destruct the moment he feels he has fooled the voters into giving him their trust.

As I mentioned in a previous post here, Christine Quinn has sold herself in more ways than a NASCAR driver. She is compromised, with real estate developers and Bloomberg”s Rolodex of financial supporters, to such a degree that her once promising career in City politics now seems more suited to Republicans than Democrats. Bill Thompson is a decent man, but uninspired at this point. Liu is an operator who needs to go work in the private sector, where financial shenanigans are de rigueur.

Bill de Blasio is the one candidate who understands what New York”s current priorities must be. Please visit www.billdeblasio.com and find out how Bill De Blasio”s plans for affordable housing and investing in early education in New York”s public schools may well be the rising tide that lifts middle class New Yorkers back to a place the City needs them to be. To benefit all New Yorkers.